Author's Note: Hello, hello sweeties! Thanks to booklover311 for reviewing Fever and Movies! I hoped you loved that chapter 'cause I know I did! ^^ I couldn't help but make Emmett the first to know about Edward's secret, since they were supposed to be brothers for a long time. I have to admit, Fever and Movies was one the best chapters I ever made, including the others from my other stories. And I apologize for the uber late update. Busy, busy, busy! Aw, crap. I'm babbling. Sorry!
On to the new chapter! Grab some munchkin, plop down a sofa, and ENJOY! ^^,,
~S
P.S. I know there's loads of people reading this, so where are you guys? Review please! :)
Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to a brilliant author named Stephenie Meyer. (Hey, it's getting easier to admit!)
EPOV
For Emmett and me, the last four days was excruciating. Why? Let me list to you all the things we had to go through:
1) My fever peaked higher in the next day, freaking Emmett out because he thought that telling him the truth resulted in me getting sicker.
2) He didn't recruit Esme's help.
3) He was mad at both Carlisle and Esme, because they didn't seem to care for me.
4) We argued about it.
5) We argued some more.
6)I fainted a few minutes into the debate.
7) We resolved it, and we agreed on a small truce.
8)After another two days, my fever died down.
Sigh . . .
"Edward, you up?" Emmett whispered through my door. "Come on in, Em." I called back, shoving my legs into a pair of jeans. Seriously, I was thankful that I could change my clothes myself. Emmett teased me nonstop about it whenever he got the chance, which was practically every time. The first few times were funny, the rest? Forget it.
Emmett inched his way round the door, peeking in as he did so. He breathed a sigh of relief to see me in clothes. "Hey. Mom's made us breakfast. Eggs and bacon? You up for it?"
I shuddered.
"Hell no. I've just recovered, I'm not willing to fall sick almost immediately, even if it's at Esme's expense." I replied, grinning when he laughed,"Yeah, figured that much. So I went over to town and bought you some decent food. You know, healthy gourmet burgers that aren't really healthy but the girls in our town still fall for it and of course, how can I forget your coffee?" He held up up a cup and I lunged at it.
"Gimme that!" I demanded and snatched the cup away from his outstretched arms. Emmett's been overly nice to me in the past few days. Ever since the confession, I couldn't help but feel grateful to him that he understood though. He also became more observant and less talkative, the traits that marked him for who he was. In the downside of my confession to him, he was no longer the same Emmett everyone around me loved.
For example, Rosalie and Emmett was having a massive row two nights ago. She was accusing him of being manipulated by me and he totally lashed back, something that Emmett never does. What was more troubling was the fact that Emmett began to shut himself out from all family activities, like I always did, and begun to hang out with me more, learning more and more things about me he never knew existed.
At least, that was what he said.
And since I've left exactly another six months in this family before I turn into an official adult and leave them all for good, I've got no choice but stick with the only family member that I truly trusted.
"Um, hello? Earth to Edward? You there?" he called out, puzzlement evident in his eyes. "Sorry, sorry. Yeah, I am, actually." I laughed and shrugged on my jacket. Emmett's eyebrows shot up. "Lemme guess, you're gonna go to a party, aren't you?"
"No, actually, I'm heading out to buy some newspapers. To um, find some available jobs that I can - what?" I asked as Emmett gave me a really, really shocked look that sent me stopping in my tracks. Why? Was there a serial killer behind me? Was there a kidnapper pointing his gun at me? Holy shit, I do need the newspapers. Emmett's mouth seemed to be scraping the floor and his eyes had gone to be as big as saucers.
Finally, he managed to say,"You're kidding me?"
"Huh?" I questioned, confused, and glanced behind my back. There was nothing though, and I could suddenly breathe so much more easier. Emmett, on the other hand, continued on,"Um . . . you're serious about getting a job? But why? Dad and Mom have enough money to support us all!"
Add to the list of the troubles I've been through in the last four days(see above): I haven't revealed to Em about Carlisle and Esme's intention to disown me and chuck me out of their house. Damn. I couldn't afford Emmett to be mad at them because of me. It was my fault that I didn't tell them the truth and I owed so much more to them than their very own golden boy child to want to leave the house alongside his deceiving brother.
Quick, Edward, quick! Make an excuse now! Hurry up!
"Um . . . Er . . . I . . . " Damn this! "I just wanted a job, you know? Make something out of a nothing? You get what I mean?" Crap, the words were rolling in too fast. Thankfully, Emmett didn't notice, as his mouth fell impossibly wider, forcing me to give him another tight grin. "Wow. If only the rest of them could see you now, Edward. Surely they'll be shocked!" he breathed, eyeing me anxiously.
"Uh. Yeah." I nodded and moved past him to walk down the stairs.
Only to be greeted by Rosalie.
If I had a chance to list down all the expletives I've used in this moment here, this story would be rated M. I'm not kidding.
"Hey, Rosa -" I began, but got cut off by Emmett's sharp-tongued fiancee.
"I know what you're doing." she warned. "Huh?" I managed, not quite on the same wavelength with her.
"Don't pretend you're like a little angel. 'Cause you're a freaking demon, whatever you do. Stop talking to Emmett as if he matters to you, because you'll hurt him when you return to your old self. Get your act together dude and make up your mind. Seriously. You're a little piece of shit, and Alice was right to call you a basta-"
"ROSALIE!" Emmett interrupted and I started. Whirling around, my eyes widened to see Emmett shoving me behind me and throwing his arms in the air. "Don't you dare, don't you dare call Edward that! What do you know about Edward, huh? Everything we know about him is the total opposite! Maybe if you've tried to actually sit down and have a decent conversation with him, maybe you'll find out his damn secret! Maybe you'll find out that his mother died of leukemia, that his father began to abuse him when he was at the age of six, that HE WAS JUST A SECOND AWAY FROM DEATH WHEN CARLISLE AND ESME FOUND HIM LYING AT THEIR BACKYARD THIR-FREAKING-TEEN MILES AWAY FROM HIS BLOODY HOUSEHOLD!" he yelled the last bit off, and I felt my mouth touching the carpet.
Shit. Shit!
Damn Emmett! Oh crap, crap, crap!
(Use your vocabulary to fill in this expletive friendly space.)
"Emmett! Ssh!" I hushed him, clamping my hand over his mouth and shot him down with a look of death. He looked absolutely horrified. "Damn!" he cursed before continuing, "Edward, I'm so sorry! I'm so freaking sor-" I cut him off. " 'Damn' is a complete understatement, trust me." I gave him a tight smile and took a risk to glance at Rosalie's expression.
Disbelief. That's what's on her face right now.
"What . . . but . . . Carlisle said . . . Esme . . . Oh jeez." she stuttered and I gave her tense, hesitant smile. She didn't reciprocate it, staring at my body, searching for signs. Sighing, I twisted my shirt a little to reveal one of my hidden scars, which I alibied as getting involved in a gang fight. Of course, they took it lightly, not really believing, though it was definitely feasible.
I let go of my shirt and looked up to meet her gaze full on.
RPOV
There's no way to describe the tension in the room. It's as if you can cut it with a knife or something. It's disorienting. Moreover, there was a completely and utterly 'holy-f*king-shit' type of shock the paralyses you.
I can't move, I can barely breathe, and my head is a little woozy from all the new information I was receiving. I couldn't think much besides the major revelation repeating itself in my head: EDWARD WAS ABUSED.
Was that the reason why he distanced himself so much? Was that the reason why he called Mom and Dad Carlisle and Esme? Was he so scared of attaching himself too much to this family because he fears that history will repeat itself?
The questions went around and around my head, fluttering like little butterflies, but with no answers. I had to say something. I have to.
Oh god, he's looking at me. They're looking. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. I closed it, and tried again, this time with more success. "Why doesn't Mom and Dad know?"
Edward gulped, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down his sleek throat. Then he gave me another super tight smile and shrugged,"I dunno? Why didn't you tell Carlisle and Esme about your engagement to Emmett?"
Good point.
"Um . . . why did you keep it a secret?"
Another long bout of silence, then Edward sighed.
"Rose," he began gently,"I didn't want anyone to know about my . . . past. I didn't want anyone to know I was Edward Masen, part of the dysfunctional Masen family. I didn't want to flaunt the fact that I had an . . . an . . . abusive father. Do you wanna know another secret, though? Emmett doesn't know this secret, either. Come in, this might take awhile."
I took a step into Edward's room and was struck by how immaculate it was, unlike my room with Emmett. Emmett, who I finally understood for sticking close to Edward. He wrapped his arms around my waist and I looked up into his sky blue eyes, seeing encouragement and complete trust in them. He tugged me down to sit on Edward's bed as if it was his, and Edward sat on the other side of me.
"The truth is . . . I still love my father."
Alright, everybody as one now: "WHAT?"
"Yeah, I know right? It's insane, it's stupid, it's naive, but he's the only family I've left in the world, my real family, that is. I love you guys to bits, but my father . . . Every time I think of him, I see the man he used to be, and that man was the best father I've ever had. He surpasses anyone, even Carlisle, in my opinion. If you had seen him before Momma's death, you would understand how difficult it is for me to hate him. The thing is, you can't, and you'll never be able to." he whispered out the last part, his nose pricking.
This clued me in.
Of all the things I never expected to happen in my whole life, my hug topped it. He was warm and lean against my frame, my arms instinctively wrapped around him, glancing at Emmett's warm expression before burrowing my face in his heated, muscular chest. This was the first time I was hugging him, and it felt nice, because this actually felt right. I guess I've lived without it for too long.
"Thanks." he sniffled and leaned into my embrace.
"Group hug!" Emmett yelled out and draped one of his arms around my hip while the other wound it's way around Edward's shoulders. They broke out laughing and I finally heard Edward laugh a real laugh. Hearing the twinkle of musical music coming from him, it made me want to laugh alongside him. This was my brother, and I was finally getting to know him.
If I'd known Edward was going through all this kind of shit for his whole life, I would have given him a free hug every single minute.
We tumbled onto the bed, laughing, as we crashed onto Emmett's weight-lifter like body. "Oomf!" breath whooshed out his lungs and I giggled at him. Edward laughed harder, wiping at his eyes.
Through the open door, I heard footsteps. Then I caught Jasper's eyes, which widened in disbelief as he caught the three of us in the group hug, his clenched hands turning loose. His mouth hanged open. "What in the world . . ." he mumbled.
We sat up, resulting to us landing on top of each other. I caught Emmett and Edward's eye, then burst out laughing, Edward laughing the loudest. I looked back at Jasper's expression only to laugh harder.
"What's going on here?" a stern voice demanded, and I felt whiplash.
Dad. And Mom.
A huge uproar of indignation suddenly blasted from me and I cried out hotly,"Nothing, Mom, Dad, we're just having some goodhearted sibling fun. Why, is it illegal to joke around and laugh as if the world is going to end? I bet not, so please, leave us be. I would definitely love it if the whole lot of you would-"
"Rose. That's enough." It's Edward, and his face is slightly red with chagrin. "Forgive us, Carlisle, Esme, if you would prefer Rosalie and Emmett to be present for dinner, I would understand. I guess I got too carried away. Go, Rose, Em, they probably want to eat breakfast with you guys. Enjoy, okay? I'm heading out for awhile."
"No. I'm coming with you." Emmett interjected, looking at me for support. And guess what? I gave it to him unconditionally. Yeah, after Edward's proclamation, I'm a whole different person.
Another thing: I am so loving it. I am so loving getting to know the real Edward.
"Yeah, me too. I've already eaten anyway. Wherever Edward and Emmett goes, I'm coming with them." I breathed out, Mom and Dad's mouths going slack, like how Jasper's was a little while back. Edward stared intensely at us, and for a moment, I understood why all those girls fell in love with him. Then he zipped his leather jacket up, shot an apologizing look at Mom and Dad, before saying,"Hurry up, then."
He gave us a lopsided smile, one that made my heart go out for him, and turned for the door.
EPOV
There are many things in life that suck, and finding a freaking job is one of them.
It's just so difficult.
So here I am, at the local cafeteria sipping some frappucino with Rosalie and Emmett, leafing through the newspapers and looking for the jobs available for an inexperienced, amateur, arrogant, stubborn seventeen and a half year old. I've tried out for three part-time jobs so far, a cashier in Thriftway, the local supermarket, a shop assistant in the Newton's outdoor accessories shop, and a freaking janitor for my high school.
Guess what they told me? 'Oh, we will give you a ring to inform you if you manage to get the job, alright?'
Translated: You didn't get the job, so suck it.
Screw me.
I guess the sucky thing is the fact that I seemed to be getting thrown out at every job I applied for. Em and Rose tried to cheer me up by treating me to coffee, but it isn't enough to bring me back from my despair. I've left very little time to get a stable job, graduate, and get into a uni with a scholarship. I have to get that scholarship, even if it means to cut half my body and give it to whoever needs it.
Okay, um, scratch that. I can't work with only half my body, and chicks will run away from me. Not such a good idea, Masen.
I sighed for the seventy eighth time in the whole day. And it was only one thirty in the afternoon. I leaned back against my chair, reading the newspapers over and over again, looking for any opening.
At the background, Em and Rose bickered.
I was getting bored.
Bored . . . bored? No, that was just an advertisement. Bored . . . bored . . . BORED!
"AHA!" I yelled, instantly sitting upright. Beside me, Emmett spilled his coffee on the front of his shirt and Rosalie gave a little scream. Then they both shoved me in unison. "Edward! What the hell is your prob, dude? Seen a pretty girl?" Emmett cried out, reaching over to grab a napkin to wipe off some of the stain. Rose giggled,"Well, that stain makes you look sexy."
"It does?"
"Yeah, and-"
"Hey, hey! Keep my ears innocent!" I laughed, as Emmett scoffed, "As if. Bet you get awesome sounds of the night every time you hook up with a girl."
Still laughing, I looked down to read the little job advertisement.
Hey, you there! it read, are you a musician? Or a wanna-be? Come test out at the Lodge! Be it, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, the keyboards, or simply the piano.
The piano, the piano, the piano, the piano. God, the thought was repeating itself in my spacious mind. It's been a long time since I played the piano. I continued to read.
So here's your chance to play it with an audience! Part-time or full time slots available. As long as you know how to play, you're welcome!
Oh . . . I don't know. It's been years since I last touched the piano, and I've been thinking of playing it once again once I left Carlisle and Esme's family.
Do I go for it? Do I not?
I mean . . . what's there to lose right?
"Hey, Em, Rose, why don't the two of you head home first? Um, I just really wanted to be alone for a little. Do you mind?" I asked them hesitantly. They looked at each other before turning around and, in unison, "Yeah, sure, go ahead. We don't mind."
I gave them an awesome smile.
As we headed off towards our separate directions, I suddenly felt as though I was facing a whole crowd of people in a huge stage without knowing what to do. My stomach was flipping over itself, my hands were twisted in knots, in spite of how impossible that sounded like. Also, I was sweating like crazy, my palms were so slick, it freaked me out.
Walking into the little restaurant that was the place where I might soon be working at, I marveled at how posh it looked like. It was sophisticated, sleek and amazingly elegant. It took my breath away and you know how rare that kind of stuff happens. I felt so damned under-dressed. I mean, look at me. I was wearing baggy jeans with a printed tee that said: THE YUMMY RETURNS. And the worst part? I was wearing a black leather jacket that did not go well with the atmosphere here.
I was doomed.
I whirled around, about to exit, when someone called out, "Wait!"
I turned. A man, roughly around thirty, stared at me in anxiety, almost frightened. His eyes blinked slowly, as if he couldn't comprehend that I was standing in front of him. He gulped and I could hear the flow of saliva that he'd gulped down. Ew.
Other than that, the man looked extremely fit. He looked like he was working out, and he had great looks. Call me conceited, but I think I look slightly better than him. I mean, I've just recovered from the fever and -
"Um, can I ask you a question?" he asked.
Huh?
"Er . . . yeah?" I said, uncertain.
"Are you . . . are you here for the job of part-time instrument player?" he asked nervously, looking everywhere but my eyes. I started. Was he a mind reader? Holy crud . . .
"Um, actually, yeah." I breathed out, following his lead and looked down to admire my shoes. "Oh thank god!" he cried out. When I looked up, he looked at me like I was his savior. He even had tears in his eyes! "I'm sorry, but I was about to go crazy with the nerves. I thought nobody was going to come! My name's Peter, by the way. Welcome to the Lodge! So, what can I do for you? What kind of -" he was cut off by a woman walking out the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dirty apron.
"Pete, stop disturbing the poor boy. Look, he looks as if he's watching a scary movie!" she paused to smile at the man, before turning to me, "Well, I'm very sorry for my husband's rudeness. But really, we've been waiting the whole day for someone to come and try out for the job we posted on the papers. So, what can you play?"
Shit.
"Uh . . . the piano?" I told her, dumbly. She smiled at me, nodding, "Perfect." Then she directed me to the grand piano, which I didn't notice til now. It wasn't exactly perfect, since it looked almost too-perfect, but it was a pretty darned good piano. I could see myself playing in that thing. Sitting down on the bench, memories flooded my mind, and I recalled the lessons my mother would take the time to teach me.
I didn't know why, but the minute I lifted the lift off the piano, I began playing one of Momma's compositions for me. In the background, I heard shocked gasps, and a lot of shuffling and hard breathing. I didn't care though, instead, I played on, swaying along with the music. The music swallowed me into a swirl of notes, creating a dizzying sensation within me.
My fingers, long asleep from the years of running away from the piano, seemed to flawlessly move across the keys with easy precision.
My heart seemed to thump with the beat.
And before I knew it, it was over. I leaned a little on the bench, staring at the piano with longing. I really wanted this job. I would die for this job. I looked back to look pleadingly at the restaurant owners.
I didn't have to even open my mouth when they blurted out,"You're in."
BPOV
No matter what I could do, Edward-freaking-Cullen still managed to sneak into my thoughts.
Was there no right thing in the world?
As I sat in the kitchen, munching on some chips, I wondered how it was like for him. Did he remember the girl who helped bring him to the Nurse's office? Did he even remember me at all?
Then something caught my eye: a telephone book. By impulse, I grabbed it, sat back down, and searched for the 'C' section. Then I realized something . . .
"BELLA! YOU DUMB-ASS!" I cried at myself, whacking myself on the head several times before getting up and tossing the stupid telephone book away from me. I was supposed to be thrashing away thoughts of that boy instead of constantly thinking of him! I took a deep, deep, breath, and began to pace around, thinking of anything but him.
Finally, I gave up. I grabbed Forks Today from off the counter and began leafing through the papers for anything interesting. There was nothing except the endless announcement of rain, rain and more rain. It's amazing how fast things can alter. One moment you're loving the rain, the next you're dreading it. Maybe I wasn't really cut out to be a water-person. Like Renee said, I wasn't much of a water-baby when I was young. I hated it when the water was cold. I'd go on crying and crying til the water was warmed up enough for me.
So then I looked up for any jobs in the Job section. I mean, Charlie isn't exactly rich, and we needed extra money asap if I was to attend a decent college or university. I remember the job I had back at Phoenix, where I had to clean the swimming pools that majority of the population there seemed to have. Instantly, my thoughts flew to Leah, and all my other friends.
God, I miss them.
But I have to let them go.
I sighed, and found a good-enough job. It was a shop assistant in the Newton's Outdoor store, where they sold all kinds of accessories for the backpackers and the campers that came pouring into Forks whenever they were up to go for a hike through the green forests. And they seemed to be paying good, too. I grabbed my windbreaker from the hanger in the hallway and got my keys.
Stepping inside the Newton store, I made sure my head was hanging extra low so that I wouldn't catch any person's eye. I also made sure to keep my voice real quiet, so that I wouldn't distract or disrupt anyone.
It seemed to be working.
It turned out that I got the job, and that I was lucky enough to be able to start the following Monday. I applied for the part-time slot, leaving my Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays free. It also turned out that the pay was great. So, all in all, today was a pretty good day.
However, I had no idea what to do the minute I reached home and had plopped down on my warm, comfortable bed. With a slight dragging of my feet, I made my way to the computer, wondering what to reply to all of those who'd probably sent me e-mails.
It's also been four days since I last read Rachel Black's e-mail. I deleted it after a few days or re=reading it, but the words penetrated deep into my conscience. So, as usual, I made sure there were no e-mails that threatened to break my waterworks first before I began to read the rest of the e-mails. I stretched a little, laughing at some funny bits of Leah and Seth's e-mail, loudly sighing when it came to Paul's, and grew extremely annoyed with Embry's, because he was irritating Seth.
As I opened a new e-mail to start writing, I thought of what to say. Of my new job, perhaps? Of it's good pay? I shook my head, knowing that they would probably close it almost immediately, since it had the potential to bore them to death. Finally, I began typing.
Dear Leah, Seth, Paul, Embry, Jared, heck, everyone,
It feels like it's been years since I last saw you guys. How are you? Are you alright? How's Ms. Jane and Mr. Alec? I bet the Demon Twins From Hell gave you guys loads to do as homework, right? Anyways, I've heard about the inter-class games the school held! Way to go, guys, for winning that gold medal! It's awesome . . . Um, Leah, this part is especially for you. Please make sure you're the only one reading this part, okay? I trust you enough not to show it to the rest of the crew. Thanks.
So, just four days ago, I helped a guy named Edward Cullen to go to the Nurse's Office, because during Biology, he very nearly fainted from the high fever he was having. Since then, my mind keeps . . . going back to him, even though I don't want it to. The worst part is, I can't help comparing him to Jacob. I just wish that I can erase all thoughts of THAT BOY away from my mind. I really don't wish to think of him now. So, what's your advice?
Please, Lee-Lee, sweetie, help me out here, will ya?
XOXO,
B
I sent it to Leah's account, imagining them to be sat around Leah's small computer table, anxiously reading the little e-mail and crying out in protest as Leah shoved them out of the way to read her portion. I sat back, glanced at the clock, and decided that it was time to cook dinner.
Today was lasagna, and I'm glad to say that it was a success.
So I went back to my room, allowing the food to cool down a little, and noticed that there was a new unread message in my computer. It was from Leah, and it was a reply.
B, it read.
We're all fine, n thanx for d congratz eu gave us. We appreciate it loads! Anyway, abt ur little prob w/ dat Edward Cullen boi, y dun't eu furget abt it? Or better yet, cum bck here to Phoenix, and den u'll totally furget abt him! Trust me, all eu gotta do is cum bck to us! Cuz we so totally miss eu! Like, crazy loads!
XOXO,
Lee-Lee
What? WHAT?
No. NO! There was no freaking way I was ever going to go back to Phoenix, where the Black's probably still resided. And what's more, I didn't need anymore heartache now, I needed something better than that. Something to keep my mind from the guilt that was constantly eating at me because of Jake's death. Didn't they understand? I thought they did, I thought they knew.
Apparently, they must have been lying in my freaking face.
Well, screw them! Screw them all!
Angrily, I deleted the e-mail, and flopped onto my bed.
It was there when I started to bawl my eyes out, partly because I still couldn't get Edward Cullen off my mind, and majorly because of the betrayal I felt of my so-called 'friends.' It hurt to think that they were lying to me, in an effort to not keep me mad at them, when it was partly their fault that Jacob Black died.
Yes, you heard right, as I yelled 'stop' to Jake's tormentor, Leah and the rest of them cheered him on. Now, where does that put them, might I ask?
The tears were flowing nonstop, and I couldn't help but feel my cheeks grow hotter.
Life sucks. This is why we're in it.